Greek Myths, Reimagined

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Goodreads says: 

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld

So, Greek myths. They're like the trend that will never go out of style, but only if you can find a way to set your Greek myth story apart from others. Some of the Greek Myths are ones every is inspired with or at least loves a lot, happens to be Hades and Persephone (the only other one that I know of is Aimee Carter's Goddess Test series) Anyways, the one that seems to have knocked me off my Hades-Persephone loving game happened to be Abandon by Meg Cabot. It was a good premise, but the characters who were supposed to hold it up (Pierce and John) were weak and flat. As well, the background of the setting, Isla de Huesos (Island of Bones) in Florida and mythology was far better than the main characters. 

Pierce has died before, but she's escaped the Underworld, the resting place of the dead. She also ends up as a blank slate, with no memories that she's already died. However, throughout the novel and after she figures out that she's died + the Underworld wants her back (the idea she doesn't take kindly to) she sets herself up in ways that are dangerous and potentially life-ending. But John Hayden, our Hades, is always there to save her. Another problem happens to be John himself.

John. Baby. Dear. Whatever term of endearment you want here, I really wanted to like you. But he didn't cut  it for me, mainly because when he showed up to save her (the convenience!), they were both regressed to stupid teenagers. But then they turned into stupid, lust-driven teenagers near the end. Now Pierce I can sorta excuse, but John's been Hades for a while now. Use your wise skills to keep you both underneath the radar of people who want to kill you, and to stop Pierce before stupidity takes over.

Another problem with John was that he was made to be this mysterious guy who was a really cool but tragic past and refuses to smile because life sucks, but he ended up being rather boring and the exact cut-out of every poorly characterized broody dude. 

Then, there's the kids in Pierce new school who were all stereotypes of The bitchy popular kids! or The Losers who's only goal is to get rid of aforementioned popular kids. Plus some more. I just felt that the kids were only put in for the benefit of making Pierce look like a saint compared to them, intelligence wise (but only by a few points)

I must admit the mythology of the Abandon was pretty cool and definitely intriguing but that was the only beacon of hope within this book.

Do I recommend this book?  Nah. You're better off with a copy of it from the library. Or really, don't bother with this one, it's all empty promises.